Social Science Section 3 Flashcards
Being derived from Greek, what does “Anthropocene” translate to.
Human & New
When is the Anthropocene said to have started?
1950
T or F: The Anthropocene is an OFFICIAL geological epoch according to the IUGS
False
T or F: Our outputs today will effect the Earths climate for many Millenia
True
Without human intervention, the earth would be… Cooling or Warming?
Cooling
When did humans start burning fossil fuels in part of the industrial revolution
Late Eighteenth Century (~1790)
According to the chart on page 39, how much has the population grown from 1950 to Today (2010)?
~4 Billion, Over Double.
Who popularized the term “Great Acceleration”?
J.R. McNeil
If the Holocene is an Interglacial period, why are we not in another Ice age right now?
The Effects we are causing to the climate is warming it up.
When was the term “Anthropocene” first used?
Year 2000
Traces of what were found in sediment core samples in the 1950s?
The artificial element is plutonium-329
Who were the first 2, to used the term “Anthropocene in the year 2000?
Paul J. Cruten and Eugene F. Stoermer
In what century did they start treating the Anthropocene as a geological epoch?
Mid-twentieth century
When was the so called “Great Acceleration”?
1950
Who popularized the image of Industrial Revolution?
British Writer Charles Dickens
What era was foundational to the Anthropocene?
1800 to 1950
Around what year did human activity alter the Earth System?
1950
Who labeled the changing that occurred during the “Great Acceleration” in 1950?
J.R. McNeill
When did humans start to interact with the Earth in a way that has never been seen before?
In the mid-twentieth century
Why is the 1950 unique to human history?
There’s data showing how quickly and greatly humans have transformed the natural world.
What year marked the start of technology?
1800
What is the IPCC?
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
What was one of the main causes of the “Great Acceleration”
The growing human population
What was the human population in 1780 and 1930?
In 1780 the population was less than 1 billion and in 1930 it was 2 billion
When did discussion of the Industrial Revolution begin?
The late eighteenth century
How high has the Atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide risen from 1750 to 2010?
It rose from around 270 to almost 390
Around what time did humans start to alter landscapes and built structures that are still here today?
Around 12,000 years ago
What is lowest layer of the atmosphere?
troposphere
Because of climate change, temperatures in the troposphere are rising or cooling?
rising
True or False? In the higher layers of the atmosphere, temperatures are cooling.
True (this is where the atmosphere is thinner)
Is it a problem that the temperature of the troposphere of the atmosphere is rising and the higher layers are cooling?
Yes because it could create instability
How thick is the troposphere?
about 7 miles
Who argued in the mid-nineteenth century that atmospheric water vapor and carbon dioxide could interact with solar rays to raise the Earth’s temperature?
Eunice Newton Foote (1819-88)
How are fossil fuels formed?
from the remains of living organisms from past geological epochs, and are stored in the earth from past geological epochs
What were steam engines powered by? (Hint: it had to be burnt in order to do so)
coal
What happens once fossil fuels are released in the atmosphere?
they serve as a greenhouse gases
What country is the largest producer of oil in 2022?
the United States (it produces 20.21 million barrels per day and share 20% of the world’s total oil production)
In what Iraqi city was oil discovered in 1927?
Kirkuk
According to U.S. sources of greenhouse gas emissions in 2020, what percentage of emissions are from fossil fuel combustion and therefore carbon dioxide?
72.6% CO2, 10.9% methane, nitrous oxide 7.1%, high-GWP gases 3.2%, and other CO2 6.2% (which is a total of 5,081 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent (CO2e))
What is black gold?
a popular term that references oil, its immense value, and the fact that it, like gold, must be extracted from the Earth even at the expense of theres’ freedom and economic viability
What is the United Nations (UN)?
an intergovernmental organization founded in 1945 in the wake of WWII with a continued aim of promoting peace, dignity, equality, and a healthy planet
True or False? According to the United Nations, it was reported that fossil fuels account for over 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions and almost 80% of CO2 emissions
False, it fossil fuels compromise almost 90% of CO2 emissions
What two gases are still greenhouse gases even though they aren’t produced by fossil fuels?
methane and nitrous oxide
What century did industrialization started?
19th century
Who cut down on greenhouse gas emissions?
The US and European Union
What does Black gold Refer to?
oil
What did the Nations use their accumulated wealth for at the start of industrialization?
To build factories and industrial infrastructure.
Who has increased their greenhouse gas emissions?
China and India
How much of global green house emissions are from fossil fuels?
about 75%
What are carbon dioxide emissions?
(CO2) emissions are the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere over a period of time and area
Who is the world’s leading emitter?
China
What goods did colonies sent to power in Europe?
Food, cotton or oil were produced in colonies and sent to manufacture in Europe.
What is considered a developed country?
Due to its developments on modernization.
Between 1990 and 2017 about what was the max amount of kt co2 released?
6,000,000 kt of co2
Who are the top four emitters?
China, the US, the EU, and India
What does GDP stand for?
Gross Domestic Product
Between 1990 and 2017 about what was the least amount of kt co2 released?
4,500,000 kt of co2
What is GDP a marker of?
Wealth
What is the majority amount of co2 released for?
Energy
Why can’t India and China simply cub bemissions down like the US and EU?
Because they’re trying to base their societies on fossil fuels, and the rules are being changed, so they’re blamed for the emissions
What countries is global concentrated at and why?
Western countries because they benefited from industrialization for centuries.
What do methane, nitric oxide, and carbon dioxide all have in common?
all green house gases
What is the name of the energy source that contains oil, natural gas, and coal?
fossil fuels
True or False: The US and EU can cut global emissions alone sufficiently
False
What percentage of the global GPD does The U.S. and China account for?
42%
What is the United States GDP?
$22.94 Trillion
How much carbon dioxide does China emit in comparison to the US?
China emits about half as much as the US
What is China’s GDP?
$16.86T
How much did the kt of co2 emissions go down between 1990-2017
about 1,500,000 kt of co2 emissions
How much carbon dioxide does India emit in comparison to the US?
India emits about 1/7 of the carbon dioxide the US does
What’s India’s GDP?
$2.95T
How much CO2 emissions of Western nations has China produced since 1750?
about 1/4
T or F: media and social beliefs color people’s perception of the natural world
True
What is apart of the Triple Planetary Crisis?
Climate Change, Air Pollution, and Biodiversity loss
Loss of certain animals or plants is often related to…
Disruptions in local habitats
T or F: Human habitats are currently experiencing stress from the natural forces
True
Climate change threatens what of communities in regions where their livelihood depend on ecological conditions?
economical/ financial impact
The heat in Iran reached what deadly temperature?
150 degrees Fahrenheit
T or F: Fires are not harmful for human societies
False
What are two water-related things that are impactful for human societies in a negative way?
Floods and Droughts
What does Anthropocene mean
A term that describes a new era in climate history that recognizes the central role of humankind in geology
What places have abnormally severe fires in the recent years?
Greece, Australia, California, Canada, and Hawaii
True or False: Climate change can cause financial demise?
True
True or False: Dry and Windy Temperatures do NOT amplify dry and windy conditions?
False
What are some things that dry and windy conditions do?
fuel fires and spread them
Can human activities impact whether or not a fire will occur?
yes
What contributes to flood risk?
rain and snow melting
How much more often do high-tide flooding occur then 50 years ago?
300% to more than 900%
How many Americans move from their home due to extreme weather events each year.
Approx 30 million
True or False: Climate change doesn’t psychologically affect humans?
False
Warmer temperatures can only result in more water migrating to the atmosphere if..
The temperature is over large bodies of water
What else can warmer temperatures over large water bodies do?
Increase Precipitation
What was the worst mega drought of in 1,200 years?
Western United States by 2022
True or False: Horn of Africa is 100 times more likely to experience drought than the Western Mediterranean
True
What side of the United States has the most droughts, west or east.
West
True or False: Drought has no affect on the viability of an area for human life
False
What year did Hurricane Ian strike Florida?
2022
How much money in damages did Hurricane Ian cause in Florida?
$112 billion
True or False: Everyone has the same sensitivity to temperature
False
What is type of infection is caused by climate change
Waterborne
Does Climate change bring new health issues
Yes, cause heatwaves
True or False: Malnutrition is influenced by floods and droughts
True
True or False: Many infectious diseases are highly sensitive to climate change?
True
T or F: Humans are pushing the Earth into a new geological and climatic epoch.
True
How many barrels of oil did the world use every day in 2022?
99.89 million barrels per day
Which country was the #5 largest oil producer in 2022?
China
What percentage of oil did the top ten oil producers use per day in 2022?
73%
Why is geography an important factor in the extraction of fossil fuel and their emission as greenhouse gases?
This is because Fossil fuels can only be extracted from locations where they are found
What influences where fossil fuels are used?
The regions of the world with wealth and political power to build the infrastructure for them.
How much oil did the world use per day in 2021?
96.66 million barrels per day
Is the amount of oil being used everyday increasing or decreasing?
The amount has increased (By 3.23 million barrels of oil per day)
The history of oil is intertwined with which continent’s history of colonialism and imperialism?
Europe
Which continent has had control of almost every country at some point in time?
Europe
Which countries saw an increase of oil consumption from 2021 to 2022 from the 10 largest oil producers?
The United States, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Brazil, and Canada all saw an increase of oil consumption.
What radioisotope can be found in core sediment samples as a result of nuclear weapons testing?
Pu-239
The First Industrial Revolution was characterized by the invention of the
steam engine
When was the term “Anthropocene” first used?
2000
Which event coincides with the beginning of the Anthropocene?
The Great Acceleration
All of the following effects of the Anthropocene are recognized by the Anthropocene Working Group EXCEPT
a. carbon cycle disruptions
b. oceanic dead zones
c. widespread habitat loss
d. invasive species
e. presence of radioisotopes in sediment
presence of radioisotopes in sediment
What PRIMARILY caused the Little Ice Age?
a. glacial drift
b. axial tilt
c. volcanic eruptions
d. anthropogenic interference
e. sulfur releases
volcanic eruptions
Approximately how long ago did the Holocene begin?
12,000 years ago
The Earth’s natural glacial cycles are MOST related to
orbital patterns in relation to the sun, called the Milankovitch cycle
Which of the following phenomena is a feature of climate change during the Anthropocene?
a. global synchrony
b. erratic temperature fluctuation
c. decreased storm frequency
d. falling sea levels
e. seismic activity
global synchrony
Which author famously wrote about child labor during the Industrial Revolution?
a. Charles Dickens
b. Nathaniel Hawthorne
c. Henry David Thoreau
d. F. Scott Fitzgerald
e. Mark Twain
Charles Dickens in Oliver Twist and A Christmas Carol
What type of fuel did James Watt’s original steam engine use?
Coal, producing large amounts of air pollution and greenhouse gasses
Which theme is common in traditional narratives of the industrial revolution?
a. human hubris
b. social inequality
c. perpetual growth
d. economic devastation
e. ecosystemic degradation
perpetual growth
During which time period did human activity impacting the Earth system increase the MOST?
mid-1900s
Who coined the phrase “Great Acceleration?”
J.R. McNeill around the year 1950
Which of the following factors was MOST important in causing the Great Acceleration?
a. invention of the steam engine
b. rise in human population
c. increase in greenhouse gasses
d. emergence of the Industrial Revolution
e. creation of gas-powered cars
rise in human population
By what factor did the human population change between 1780 and 1930?
2, population doubled
Why is the period since 1950 unique in human history?
Humans have quickly impacted the Earth
During what era did humans first leave recognizable impacts on the Earth?
Holocene
Which of the following socio-economic trends has NOT increased during the Great Enrichment?
a. urban population
b. local trade
c. fertilizer consumption
d. foreign direct investment
e. real GDP
local trade
What has been the trend in carbon dioxide concentration from 1750 to 2010?
The concentration gradually increased from 1750 to 1950 then rapidly increased from 1950 to 2010.
What was the approximate human population in 1780?
less than a billion
What change occurred during the Holocene that led to humans creating long-lasting impacts on the Earth?
Humans first constructed monuments
Around what year did temperatures first rise over the twentieth-century average?
1970
What is the profession of J. R. McNeill?
environmental historiam
In which layer of the Earth’s atmosphere has ozone concentration increased in the period from 1950 to 2010?
stratosphere
Which layer of Earth’s atmosphere is experiencing warmer temperatures due to climate change?
troposphere
Which of the following statements correctly summarizes the effects of carbon dioxide on the layers of the atmosphere?
a. Carbon dioxide causes warming in the troposphere and cooling at higher layers.
b. Carbon dioxide causes lower temperatures in the troposphere but warming in the stratosphere.
c. Carbon dioxide causes the greenhouse effect only in the troposphere.
d. At every layer of the atmosphere, carbon dioxide causes warmer temperatures.
e. Carbon dioxide depletes the ozone layer in the stratosphere.
Carbon dioxide causes warming in the troposphere and cooling at higher layers.
Approximately how thick is the troposphere in miles?
seven miles
In which layer of the Earth’s atmosphere does weather occur?
troposphere
What word BEST describes the effect of diverging temperatures between layers of the atmosphere?
a. instability
b. cooling
c. warming
d. pollution
e. storms
instability
What statement BEST summarizes Eunice Newton Foote’s hypothesis concerning Earth’s atmosphere?
Water vapor, carbon dioxide, and solar rays could combine to raise the Earth’s temperature.
What nationality was Eunice Newton Foote?
American scientist, created a hypothesis for atmospheric warming
What year was Eunice Newton Foote born?
1819
What three countries have the largest share of the total world oil production?
United States, Saudi Arabia, and Russia
What is the difference between the troposphere and the higher layers of the atmosphere?
The air is thinner at higher layers of the atmosphere
What percentage of the world total oil does the United States produce?
20 percent
How many barrels of oil (in millions) did the United States produce in 2022?
20.21 million barrels per day
What is the PRIMARY result of higher greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere?
rising temperatures in the troposphere
What country contributes twelve percent of the world’s total oil?
Saudi Arabia
What fossil fuel was used FIRST during the Industrial Revolution?
coal
In the twenty-first century, coal is MOST often used in
power plants
Which of the following concerns was LEAST important to Europeans when colonizing oil-rich areas?
a. building imperial power
b. extracting wealth
c. supporting democracy
d. exerting force
e. accessing oil
supporting democracy
What factor PRIMARILY determines where fossil fuels are used?
wealth
Which of the following countries was both the top producer and consumer of oil in the early 2020s?
a. United States
b. Russia
c. India
d. Saudi Arabia
e. China
United States
How many millions of barrels of oil per day does the United States consume?
19.89 million barrels per day
What Iraqi city did British colonial influence impact after the discovery of oil there?
Kirkuk
What year was oil first discovered in Iraq?
1927
What word BEST describes the city of Kirkuk before the British arrived?
diverse
What is a similarity between early stages of the Industrial Revolution and the oil industry today?
The oil industry makes a profit.
Which of the following countries has never been under European control or influence?
a. Japan
b. Morocco
c. New Zealand
d. Saudi Arabia
e. Chile
Japan
Which gas has the second highest greenhouse gas emissions in the United States?
methane
Which year had the highest amount of greenhouse gas emissions in Europe from 1990 to 2017?
1990
Which word BEST describes the goals of the oil industry?
profitability
Oil is also known as
black gold
Why did European empires PRIMARILY begin to establish colonies?
to extract natural resources and human labor
What percentage of the world’s Gross Domestic Product consists of China and the United States?
42%
Which industry makes up roughly 25% of China’s Gross Domestic Product?
manufacturing
The United States’s Gross Domestic Product is closest to
23 trillion
What statement accurately compares the United States and China’s CO2 emissions over time?
The United States emitted half as much CO2 as China in 2020.
Which of the following locations likely consumed the MOST fossil fuels in the 19th century?
a. Egypt
b. Great Britain
c. China
d. Saudi Arabia
e. India
Great Britain
Traditional narratives typically label non-industrialized countries as
developing
Which PRIMARY measure have Western European countries taken to address global warming?
investing in technology to reduce emissions
When did the United States begin to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions?
2000s
How have India’s CO2 emissions changed from 1990 to 2020?
They increased by a factor of five (5)
What country emits the MOST CO2 emissions today?
China
How do China’s annual CO2 emissions per capita compare to those of the United States?
China emits half as much CO2 per capita
Approximately how much CO2 did the United States emit in 2019?
5,000 megatonnes
Which country emitted twice as much CO2 per capita as the EU in 2019?
Russia
How do China’s cumulative CO2 emissions since 1750 compare to those of Western nations?
China has emitted one quarter as much CO2.
Which major historical development occurred around 1500?
the establishment of the first European colonies
When did industrialization begin in the United States and England?
c. 1800
Which quantity measures the total market value of final goods and services produced in a country during a given year?
gross domestic product of GDP
Which of the following countries has the GREATEST GDP?
a. the United States
b. Germany
c. China
d. Japan
e. India
the United States
How many countries possess a greater than 1% share of the world economy?
18 countries
Which of the following statements accurately describes the United States’’ CO2 emissions over time?
a. Emissions remained stagnant from 1900 to 1950.
b. Emissions tripled from 1950 to 2000.
c. Emissions began to decline in 1950.
d. Emissions quadrupled from 1900 to 1920.
e. Emissions halved from 1980 to 2000.
Emissions tripled from 1950 to 2000.
When did China’s annual CO2 emissions reach 10 billion tonnes per year?
2020
Why did Western powers maintain colonial relationships in the nineteenth century?
to obtain natural resources for manufacturing
Which of the following characteristics is MOST often used to define modern nations?
a. the use of fossil fuels
b. democratic governance
c. high literacy rates
d. access to healthcare
e. economic globalization
the use of fossil fuels
Which type of fuel accounts for the LARGEST portion of India’s CO2 emissions?
coal
Which statement about recent greenhouse gas emissions is TRUE?
a. The EU has increased their emissions.
b. China has increased their emissions.
c. Russia has reduced their emissions.
d. The US has increased their emissions.
e. India has reduced their emissions.
China has increased thier emissions
Which of the following countries emits the MOST CO2 emissions per capita?
a. China
b. the UK
c. the US
d. India
e. Russia
the US at 15.5 tones per capita, followed by Russia at 12.5 tonnes per capita
Approximately how much CO2 did the European Union emit in 2019?
3,000 megatonnes
How do India’s CO2 emissions per capita compare to those of the US?
India emits one seventh as much CO2 per capita.
Which of the following factors contributes MOST to China’s CO2 emissions?
a. exports
b. waste management
c. residential homes
d. transportation
e. agriculture
exports
How does India’s carbon dioxide emissions per person compare to the United States’ emissions per capita per person?
less than one-seventh of United States emissions
Since 1750, what percentage of the cumulative CO2 emissions from Western nations has China produced?
25%
Along with climate change and air pollution, which other development is a component of the triple planetary crisis?
biodiversity loss
Which country had a heat index of 158 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer of 2023?
Iran
Which area has NOT had to deal with abnormally severe fires in the past few years?
a. Canada
b. Germany
c. Australia
d. Greece
e. Hawaii
Germany
How do warmer temperatures cause severe fires?
They intensify dry and windy conditions
Which of the following factors contributes to floods and is made worse by climate change?
a. mid-ocean volcanic eruptions
b. deforestation
c. solar flares
d. tidal changes
e. snowmelt
snowmelt
What disasters have the NOAA warned are now more than 900% more frequent than 50 years ago?
high tide floods
Which of the following developments is an effect of coastal erosion?
a. an increase in inland storm surge flooding
b. an increase in agricultural productivity inland
c. an improvement in air quality
d. a decrease in marine biodiversity
e. an increase in the amount of freshwater
an increase in inland storm surge flooding
Which state did Hurricane Ian affect?
Florida
How much damage in dollars did Hurricane Ian cause?
$112 billion dollars
How do warmer temperatures over large bodies of water affect the Earth?
increased precipitation
What area is a hundred times more likely to experience drought due to climate change?
the Horn of Africa
What region of the United States is MOST prone to drought?
Western United States
What weather events will MOST affect food production?
drought
Which proportion of the US experienced droughts in the summer of 2021?
40%
How are the ecological impacts of droughts different from the agricultural impacts?
Ecological impacts typically last longer than six months.
Each of the following states experienced droughts in August 2021 EXCEPT
a. Oregon
b. Florida
c. Arizona
d. Wyoming
e. Minnesota
Florida
Which of the following states experienced the MOST severe droughts in August 2021?
a. Alaska
b. New York
c. California
d. Texas
e. Hawaii
California
Which statement correctly describes the impacts of drought in specific regions of the United States?
a. Kansas primarily experienced long-term impacts.
b. Virginia experienced both short- and long-term impacts.
c. Washington primarily experienced long-term impacts.
d. Nevada experienced both short- and long-term impacts.
e. Texas primarily experienced short-term impacts.
Nevada experienced both short- and long-term impacts.
Which populations are MOST susceptible to disrupted weather conditions?
those that lack cooling and heating infrastructure
Who issued a report identifying health risks associated with climate change in 2017?
the United Nations
What is one way that climate change affects the spread of diseases?
by expanding geographical range of many diseases and being in the area for a longer period of time
Which types of diseases are the MOST sensitive to climate conditions?
a. vector-borne diseases
b. foodborne diseases
c. airborne diseases
d. waterborne diseases
e. zoonotic diseases
waterborne diseases
What health risk is MOST strongly associated with both floods and drought?
malnutrition and undernutrition
Climatic conditions often drive insurance companies to
stop insuring property in disaster-prone regions
Which industries face the GREATEST threat from climate change?
fishing and farming
How many Americans move their homes because of extreme weather events every year?
30 million
Scientists constantly revise their models of climate change in response to new data about
greenhouse gas emissions
Which feelings are MOST strongly associated with climatic conditions in the Anthropocene?
a. complacency and acceptance
b. dread and apathy
c. resolution and resolve
d. hope and optimism
e. empathy and compassion
dread and apathy
Which framework describes the impacts of environmental changes?
a. Earth System Science
b. the triple planetary crisis
c. the climate justice framework
d. sustainability science
e. climate determinism
the triple planetary crisis (climate change, air pollution and biodiversity loss)
Which of the following aspects of human life has climate change affected LEAST?
a. cultural traditions
b. mental health
c. finances
d. physical health
e. migration
cultural traditions
